Cut-Throat Grok leads you down below a couple at a time to the ship's stores. She hands you back your belongings A pirate must have their effects. she says with a wink. Walking over to a cabinet she opens it up explaining, This ship has won much treasure, feel free to pick out a few items that could help you in the coming fight, just know that they will come out of your share of the loot. She logs every item taken.
When back up on deck, many of the crew are pointing at a large bird which has landed at the top of the mast, most of the crew are unsure what type of omen this must be right before battle.
A black bird on the mast, means the crew will hold fast. says Sandra.
Looks like there is one there. It is black leather and has a carving of a wolf's head at the base of the handle.
Calah picks out a mwk cutlass, mwk light crossbow (with bolts), mwk heavy wooden shield and mwk Lamellar leather suit of armor.
"Thank you Grok, these will be of use. I don't suppose you have any magical wands of healing here? They might be of use when one of our crew members are hurt."
Back upstairs Calah notices the black bird and studies it closely.
(if needed)
Arjun excitedly peruses the quartermaster's store, and is elated to find not one, but two masterwork wakizashi. He tests their edge with his thumb and smiles. "These will be perfect. I will also take that fine suit of studded leather."
Items: masterwork wakizashi, masterwork wakizashi, masterwork studded leather
Success
Success
Arjun dons his weapons, old and new, as well as his new armor. "Like a glove." He flexes and stretches a moment to get comfortable, then nods and springs into action.
First he inspects all the main rigging, checking by hand the cables and ropes that support the mast, including the turnbuckles and cotter pins securing the rigging to the hull. We wouldn't want the ship dismasted because a 2-copper-piece cotter pin was missing!
Next he checks the running rigging that raise and control the halyards and sheets. He makes sure that they are separated, not wrapped around each other or fouled on anything else, and that they all have a figure-eight knot or other stopper knot on the bitter end so they cannot pull through the mast or sheaves.
"RIGGING READY!"
Next he pulls all lines out of their cleats and off their winches. There should be nothing binding any line. All should be free to move and be clear at this point. He lets out the topping lift that holds the back of the boom out of the way until the boom sags downward freely, then re-cleats to make sure the boom isn't going to hit anyone in the head as they change sail.
"READY TO HOIST MAINSAIL!"
When given the signal, Arjun helps hoist the mainsail by pulling down on its halyard all the way until it stops. It luffs for a few moments until it catches the wind. Next, using the jib halyard, he helps raise the jib, and cleat the halyard off.
"MAINSAIL AND JIB RAISED! READY TO PURSUE!"
Arjun stands ready to trim the jib, and watches the telltales for changes in the wind. Besmara willing, he will at least keep it in broad reach, if not running.
Profession (sailor)
I will grab a mwk light crossbow and bolts
@ Kyranda from Grok Of course you can borrow it. Just remember it will come out of your share of the booty.
@ Calah from Grok No wands for healing on here. Anything like that would likely be claimed by the ship's sailing master Peppery Longfarthing.
Your are able to determine that the bird appears to be a small Roc.
@Arjun, Mr. Plug raises his eyebrows at your work, it seems that you know your way around a ship. It might just be a possibility that you impressed him.
@Dimitrious, roger.
The ship comes neatly into the wind and the small sails on the horizon seem to be getting closer. As the ship becomes hull up on the horizon, you can tell that she will make a nice prize. She looks slightly larger than your ship and is probably heavily laden with supplies.
I will aid with whatever woodworking needs done, I will also be spamming "Mending" wherever needed
Jax magic missiles the black bird to try to get rid of the omen. [dice=damage]1d4+1
Arjun eyes the approaching vessel, expectantly bouncing on the balls of his feet. He stops suddenly, remembering something. He reaches to his belt and retrieves a dagger from its sheath. He inspects the blade, rubbing his thumb on the tang, then holds it up to his mouth and licks the edge. He repeats this for three daggers, coating each in a thin layer of saliva. Satisfied, he resumes holding a rigging rope steady until they are within closing distance.
Calah starts talking as she has identified the bird.
"It appears to be a Roc, normally they are gargantuant birds who can carry off elephants easily. This one appears to be around our size, it must still be a young one. Jax what are you...Stop it you idiot!"
"A Roc is a truly awesome creature and if we could tame it it could be a powerful ally!"
I think Jax caught Calah flatfooted on that one. I will give Calah a chance to handle animal before it flies off though.
Calah tries her best to calm the animal from a distance. She pulls out a piece of dried salted pork out of her pocket in the attempt to call the animal down next to her.
"No one be stupid enough to attack it! This is an extremely rare opportunity to gain a powerful ally."
The Roc flies down from the mast and lands next to Calah; it grabs the salted pork in its beak.
Shading her eyes from the sun, and glad for the excuse to relax from working for a moment, Suny looks at the bird people are pointing out.
When Jax makes to cast his spell,
Suny will frown and gently poke him in the shoulder,
"Here? Whut be ye doin' to tha' bird? T'is jus'..." And she stops as Calah explains exactly what sort of bird it is.
"Hey! Don't go hurtin' tha' fry!" She exclaims. "When there be a young', there might some times be a parent about, watchin'!" Suny cautions the fellow.
Calah starts stroking the giant bird with great care and starts talking to it softly "There there girl, I apologize for my idiotic friend. We mean you no harm. Where are your parents, young one." She gives it another piece of meat while talking to it slowly in order to calm it down.
When the bird is calmed down Calah calls Sandra over. Calah would like to introduce the two. She also explains the rarity of encountering such a bird in the wide sea. This should surely be a great omen for the crew. Maybe Sandra can help Calah convince the crew to keep the bird and let Calah look after it and train it. When it grows larger it could even carry a companion and serve as a scout. In battle it could drop alchemist fire on our opponents, rip their sails or even carry off their captain.
"Please Sandra, help me convince the crew of the meaning of having a Roc for an ally. It surely is a great omen."
Sandra says again lounder, Black bird on the mast, the crew will hold fast. This is a good omen before a battle, a boat that sails with a bird is more likely to live out a storm as well.
The quartermaster begins to nod as if in agreement and the captain goes back into his cabin.
Mr. Plugg Enough gawking we can keep it, but you will have to look after it. He says to Calah.
"Aye Mr. Plugg. I'll train her up to be a prime member of the crew and a great asset to the ship!"
Calah lures the bird with her using a piece of meat to a more quiet area of the ship to start training the bird.
"We will have to think of a name for you don't we. Do you know any good names for a great bird of prey Sandra?"
When the call to prepare for battle is sounded, Noro takes to the task of clearing the deck. readying boarding pikes and strtegic locations for ready access.
Noro is engaged in her work to wory about a bird. she apparently does not seem to buy into the superstions of the bird. but she keeps those beliefs to herself, not wantting to thwart the ideas of fellow crewmates.
Sandra I think Cardea is a good idea, but in the end she seems to have been attracted to you so I think it should be up to you.
It becomes apparent that you are closing, the ship in front of you is now less than a mile a way. Her sails are no match for yours. Mr. Plugg gathers you all together, When we come along side I need you swabs to take the stern castle and wheel. There are grappling hooks and wooden planks over there. he says pointing a stack by the mast. Looking at Calah, Slit one of the pigs throats and tie a line to its feet and toss it overboard. I want to attract some sharks. When we begin our assault it will get cloudy use this to gain the advantage.
"Aye, I'll bring some sharks about! Also Mr. Plugg, do we have any magical wands of healing? I could heal our crew members who went down in the fight."
Still fidgeting after donning the armor handed back to her in preparation for the coming fight Suny also adjusts the long curved blade which is slung across her back and the elegant blade sheathed at her hip. She leans closer to,
And whispers, "Here...why is we attractin' sharks...?"
Don't be thinking just cause I gave you lot weapons that I would give you something truly valuable like a wand of healing. That type of thing thing is for more trusted crew members.
Dimiti will continue spamming "Mending" wherever needed and have his crossbow ready to go. Looking for advantageous spot on the ship to snipe opponents.
"As long as ye not be cryin' about the men we lost. If it be my crew I'd take better care of them."
Calah says out loud while going down below to get the pig.
The Roc will fly to one of the masts waiting for Calah to return. It does not like the busy deck all too much.
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As soon as the other ship is within his 100 foot range. Jax will magic missile the other captain of the enemy ship.
Jax replies to sunny. Our captain has a plan, and I have a plan to, to destroy the captain of the enemy ship. Why we attracting sharks, I don't know, but our captain knows what he is doing.
Arjun smiles, bemused at the drama concerning the new pet bird. "If your bird would be so kind as to fly over their ship and let us know what we are about to get mixed up with, it would be very helpful."
@ Dimitrious, the ship does have a railing, and mending may be needed soon.
As the ships close arrows start to rain in. Jax manages to get his magic missile off at a man who appears to be captain. A ballista bolt from the fleeing ship strike a line on the mast. Dimitrious jumps into action and mends the line. Mr. Plugg looks at Calah and says, I will deal with you after the battle.
Three crossbow bolts come flying in toward Jax.
But by some miracle they all miss.
Suddenly the ship in front of you become surrounded by fog, and you hear two loud reports from your chase cannons as they fire into the cloud in front of them.
Ships are now 70 feet apart.
I will cast "penumbra" on myself and take cover opposite of the cannons
edit: I will keep an eye open for enemy boarders
Calah ties down the weakest and sickliest looking pig, slices his throat and throws the body outside of a portculis/porthole. She comes up and looks for a spot behind a sturdy railing or mast until the ships close some more she can't see anyone yet anyway.
"No one go for a cool refreshing dip now lads or you'll be swimming with sharks!"
Jax, the good news is you can keep that missile. The ship in front of you is now surrounded by fog offering total concealment at this range.
Arjun grabs a torch from a nearby sconce and climbs the mizzenmast. He scoots out on the rigging and grabs a rope, ready to swing over to the other ship. He shouts down to Dimitrious. "Be ready to cast grease on their deck! I will toss a torch and light them up!"
Suny follows Arjun's example and climbs the aft mast, working her way out onto the spar so as to be able to swing down onto the enemies aft-castle.
You can hear shouts coming from the other vessel, Standby to repel boarders. You can estimate that your ship is about 30 feet off of their starboard quarter and gaining fast. There ship remains blanketed in fog but a few bolts fly out and towards the Wormwood.
An Alchemist's Fire breaks just above the waterline amidships. Luckily a waves extinguishes the flame before it can do any damage.
Calah casts produce flame and calls the Roc down to a lower mast. She might need her companion in battle already.
I will stay on this side and snipe enemies
casting penumbra
Taking cover, ready to snipe
Adjusting her grip on the beam on which she's hanging on and preparing to swing across. (^_^)